U.S.-Japan intelligence communities hold joint, bilateral ISR symposium

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance personnel from 22 organizations across the Indo-Pacific theater including U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Japan’s Air, Maritime, and Ground Self-Defense Forces attended the inaugural Fifth Air Force joint, bilateral ISR symposium, Yokota Air Base, May 30-31, 2019. In an effort to meet the symposium objectives, the participants outlined key information sharing processes and conducted a table-top exercise to determine areas for increased cooperation, ultimately identifying solutions to pursue in future, joint ISR collaboration. Since May 2018, Fifth Air Force and the Koku Jieitai have conducted multiple exchanges to include squadron-level intelligence and airborne ISR crew exchanges, all aimed at advancing bilateral interoperability to address the changing security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S.-Japan intelligence communities hold joint, bilateral ISR symposium

As part of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance symposium opening ceremony, Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, Fifth Air Force commander, and Lt. Gen. Shinichi Kaneko, Air Defense Command vice commander, reminded the participants of the rapidly evolving security environment and the importance for American and Japanese forces to advance bilateral and joint interoperability in key mission areas such as ISR. Both commanders charged the participants to deepen mutual understanding of each other’s ISR capabilities and clearly define the challenges to advancing and integrating ISR operations. In an effort to meet the symposium objectives, the participants outlined key information sharing processes and conducted a table-top exercise to determine areas for increased cooperation, ultimately identifying solutions to pursue in future, joint ISR collaboration.

U.S.-Japan intelligence communities hold joint, bilateral ISR symposium

As part of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance symposium opening ceremony, Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, Fifth Air Force commander, reminded the participants of the rapidly evolving security environment and the importance for American and Japanese forces to advance bilateral and joint interoperability in key mission areas such as ISR. Twenty-two organizations across the Indo-Pacific theater including U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Japan’s Air, Maritime, and Ground Self-Defense Forces attended the inaugural Fifth Air Force joint, bilateral ISR symposium, Yokota Air Base, May 30-31, 2019. Since May 2018, Fifth Air Force and the Koku Jieitai have conducted multiple exchanges to include squadron-level intelligence and airborne ISR crew exchanges, all aimed at advancing bilateral interoperability to address the changing security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S.-Japan intelligence communities hold joint, bilateral ISR symposium

Published June 2, 2019
By Capt. AnnMarie Annicelli
5th Air Force

Yokota Air Base, Japan --

As part of the opening ceremony, Japan’s Air Defense Command vice commander reminded the participants of the rapidly evolving security environment and the importance for American and Japanese forces to advance bilateral and joint interoperability in key mission areas such as ISR.

“The security environment around Japan is getting more severe and uncertain, and in this context, the U.S.-Japan alliance is becoming increasingly important as we place it as a pillar of national security,” said Lt. Gen. Shinichi Kaneko, Air Defense Command vice commander. “Bilateral ISR is one of the most important operations our two countries do together, so I charge all of you to deepen mutual understanding of each other’s ISR capabilities, and clearly define the challenges to advancing and integrating our operations.”

In an effort to meet the symposium objectives, the participants outlined key information sharing processes and conducted a table-top exercise to determine areas for increased cooperation, ultimately identifying solutions to pursue in future, joint ISR collaboration.

“While the U.S. Air Force and Koku Jieitai have a long history of developing information sharing processes, the ISR symposium is a step forward in paving the way to broader integration with the joint services that maximizes battlespace awareness,” explained Col. Kouji Gillis, Fifth Air Force ISR director.

In addition to the ISR symposium, Fifth Air Force and Japan's ADC are preparing for the annual Far East Tactics and Analysis Team bilateral working group where U.S. and Japanese intelligence analysts and operators meet to analyze adversary tactics in order to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures critical to maintaining the advantage over potential adversaries across the region.

“Both U.S. National Defense Strategy and Japan’s National Defense Program Guidelines acknowledge an increasingly complex global security environment and efforts to shift the balance of power in the international arena. Events like the Fifth Air Force ISR symposium and FETAT demonstrate the U.S. and Japan’s commitment to evolving our critical thinking and training to prepare for a more complex threat environment in the Indo-Pacific region,” added Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, Fifth Air Force commander.

Since May 2018, Fifth Air Force and the Koku Jieitai have conducted multiple exchanges to include squadron-level intelligence and airborne ISR crew exchanges, all aimed at advancing bilateral interoperability to address the changing security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.

For over 70 years, the U.S.-Japan Alliance has been the cornerstone of stability, security and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and it will continue to serve that role in the future.